Middlesbrough kept their hopes of automatic promotion alive as goals from Lee Tomlin and Patrick Bamford gave them a 2-0 win over Rotherham United at the Riverside Stadium this afternoon.
After a slow start that saw the home team dominate possession but create little, Middlesbrough defender Daniel Ayala nearly put his side ahead with a spectacular effort.
Ayala went close again when his header was then cleared off the line by Paul Green, before Rotherham goalkeeper Damian Martinez was forced into a smart double save by Albert Adomah.
Rotherham rode their luck once more when Bamford, Kike, and Adomah combined shortly before the break, only to see to ball hacked off the line yet again.
The break allowed Middlesbrough to regroup, and within five minutes of the restart they were finally in front when Tomlin ran at the Rotherham defence, who backed off the winger and allowed him to hammer a low strike into the back of the net from 20 yards.
Kike could have doubled the lead were his strike not turned away by the impressive Martinez, but Bamford made no mistake with a chance of his own minutes later, slotting home Tomlin's cross from close range for his 18th goal of the season.
Tomas Kalas picked out Bamford with a long range pass 11 minutes from time, but Martinez was alert to the danger and denied Middlesbrough a third.
However, Aitor Karanka's team comfortably saw out the final minutes and even had the luxury of Bamford's late saved penalty not affecting the result.
Boro remain fourth in the table, one point from an automatic promotion spot, while Rotherham sit seven points above relegation in 21st.
Joe Sharratt
